Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls is competing against himself

Running back Thomas Rawls is at the top of the Seattle Seahawks depth chart, at least according to the third-year back, who has yet to play a complete season.

“If there was a depth chart with three selective players, I look at it as Thomas Rawls, Thomas Rawls and Thomas Rawls,” he told reporters Friday after the Seahawks’ final organized team activity. “I’ve always been in competition with myself. I just believe that this program, this whole organization has a mindset of competition.

“We believe that as long as people compete they will earn whatever they deserve in the end, it’ll work itself out.”

Thomas is returning from a disappointing season that was high in expectations and low in production. Although, he doesn’t deserve all the blame. With the loss of veteran Marshawn Lynch last season to temporary retirement, the load was Rawls’ to carry. After suffering a fibula fracture early in the season, he was sidelined much of the year as he fought to recover.

In nine games played in 2016, Rawls had just 109 carries for 349 yards and three touchdowns. He will start next season healthy and hopes to make a difference.

“I feel even better, I actually get an offseason,” Rawls explained of his fresh start. “I just remember coming off those injuries and everything, it was kind of tough. You also learn from being a professional and in a way, it kind of humbles you in a lot of different ways. I’ve been having a great offseason and I’ve been feeling way better moving a lot, taking no days off and getting back to the grind.”

“One thing I can learn from him is just his whole mindset and trying to get to understand him more as a teammate because whenever we’re out there on Sundays we’re never divided,” Lacy said. “This whole backfield, this whole team, we’re all one with one common goal and that’s to win a championship and that’s why he’s here also.”